Bread Making

Tonight I needed a loaf of bread for breakfast in the morning. I have been making my own bread for quite a while now, but I was watching one of the many cooking programs that my D Mike and I watch and one of the Baker brothers used the following recipe.

500g of strong white flour
300ml of tepid water which has
1 pkt of dried yeast dissolved into it
pinch of salt
and a little olive oil.

Using my Kenwood Chef I measured the flour and salt into the mixing bowl, then using the dough hook, set the mixer on a medium speed and then stirred in the liquid, just before the ingredients were fully mixed I drizzled some olive oil into the dough mix.

I kneaded the dough with the machine for approximately 5 minutes, then shaped it into a ball and popped it into a greased bowl, covered it with a plastic bag and put it in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.

Knock the dough back, shape into a flat rectangle, then roll the dough into a sausage shape and place in the loaf tin seam side down.

Allow the loaf to prove for about 40 minutes, brush with beaten egg, cover with seeds of your choice (mine are sesame seeds, using a sharp knife cut a few slits into top of the loaf  and then place in a hot oven 200f - just before you close the oven door, poor some cold water into a baking tray at the bottom of the oven - this will steam up and intensify the heat and give a crusty loaf.  Cook for 25-35 minutes.

All being well you should get a loaf like this

This has to be one of the best looking loafs I have made, the top feels really crunchy, so we couldn't wait to try it for breakfast in the morning and we just had to cut it to have with good quality olive oil and the best balsamic vinegar that we bought at a food show.  OMG the crust was really crusty and the taste was wonderful.

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Normally, other recipes I use call for salt, sugar and milk powder, but this recipe didn't have sugar or milk and it was much much better.

We both love sour dough bread, and I just need to get my starter made and fermenting..........................  The problem when you make things like this that turn out well, you don't like buying shop bought bread.

Roll on breakfast in the morning, however I can't make one of these if Mike isn't here - I will eat the lot and it will be no good for my diet......the diet gods will not be kind to me and I will see my weight creep up again.....................catch you later........................................